KA BAR
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 12:20 pm
I have a KA BAR 112 USA and need help with the years it was in production. Also would like an opinion as to what is the value. I have found several 1300 patterns but have no comps for a 112.
With a model number on the blade, the earliest possible production would be 1969 and the latest would be 1976ish, although I believe the 112 is more like 1969 to 1972 and is an early model number stamped iteration of the 1232.
Earliest date is based on examination of NIB samples that had paperwork dated 1969 both with and without model numbers.
The dark green box with little gold "fleur-de-lis" symbols all over it were early 1970s.
U.S.A. on the ricasso of a stacked leather hunter of any model makes the latest production date as about 1975 or 1976,depending on a specific model run, as this is approximately, when Cole National/Cole Consumer Products shifted manufacture to Seki, Japan. Any knives made after this transition period would "JAPAN" instead of "U.S.A."
I base my guess of 1969 to 1972 on a few factors -
- the relative scarcity of 112s indicates only a single run was made
- the few I have seen with boxes have all been the dark green/FDL boxes.
- I have only seen the 3 digit model number on 112 fixed blades.
- the 112 is a model number that does not appear in any of the model number documents that I have found and snitched off Kabar's website over the years. Nor does the 112 appear in any catalogs I have seen.
This all adds up to a single run near the initiation of stamped model numbers and changes to production rather quickly, since all other fixed blade model numbers are 4 digits.
As far as value goes, that is in the eye of the beholder. I have 3 of them. The least I paid was $12 and the most was $35, but that one came with a sheath and a box. That was also 4 years ago.
Throw it on fleabay with a $15 starting price and see where it goes. With the original sheath and box, who knows what it might bring.